Gaining a US work visa

fret_wimp2

If you are living in Ireland, how do you get a US work permit, if you currently do not have a job lined up in the US?

If you need to have a job lined up, how do you go about doing that?

x in the city

who ever answers this should get a gold encrusted parchment dotted with priceless jewels...

I think the answer to that is that its practically impossible to get a job in the states..!

I dont mean a J1 visa and that crap, has anyone actually got proper scientific, engineering work or the like without being lucky enough to get a green card...

fret_wimp2

Ive gotten an offer over there with my current company, but I also have a partner who I cannot leave behind.

From what i can see our options are:

1. Get a US company to sponsor my partner.
2. Enter the US Visa Lotto.

I dont like the chances of the lotto, or the time frame, so the only real option is to find a company who will provide a work visa.

How do i begin searching for a company to do this?

Ian C

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Ive gotten an offer over there with my current company, but I also have a partner who I cannot leave behind.

From what i can see our options are:

1. Get a US company to sponsor my partner.
2. Enter the US Visa Lotto.

I dont like the chances of the lotto, or the time frame, so the only real option is to find a company who will provide a work visa.

How do i begin searching for a company to do this?

Are you going on the L1 or H1B? I think on the L1, your spouse can work, whereas on the H1B they can only live in the country.

x in the city

there are so many visas in the usa for work related activity, its frankly ridiculous, and I cant be half arsed to even bother with their system

HB1X

BVC1

HXD12

CX1O

XXCV1

BHU1

!!

fret_wimp2

Ian C wrote: »

Are you going on the L1 or H1B? I think on the L1, your spouse can work, whereas on the H1B they can only live in the country.

Not my spouse im afraid, thats where the problem lies. partner of quite a few years but not a spouse.

Pythia

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Not my spouse im afraid, thats where the problem lies. partner of quite a few years but not a spouse.

Why dont you get married?

DeadMoney

Work & live in the US...

[ ] Get sponsorship from an employer
[ ] Win the diversity green card lotto
[x] Marry a citizen

paky

op it seems to be easier to work in canada. theyve extended their work visa to 2 years for irish citizens. stay there till you get citizenship and as far as im aware, canadian citizens have no work restrictions in the usa.

paky

oops, doesnt seem to work that way!

avalon68

x in the city wrote: »

who ever answers this should get a gold encrusted parchment dotted with priceless jewels...

I think the answer to that is that its practically impossible to get a job in the states..!

I dont mean a J1 visa and that crap, has anyone actually got proper scientific, engineering work or the like without being lucky enough to get a green card...

Why exactly do you think a J1 visa crap? I work as a research scientist here on a J1 visa......its the easiest visa to get, and the one you are most likely to be instructed to apply for by employers as it doesnt cost them anything!

Varkov

avalon68 wrote: »

Why exactly do you think a J1 visa crap? I work as a research scientist here on a J1 visa......its the easiest visa to get, and the one you are most likely to be instructed to apply for by employers as it doesnt cost them anything!

Because he's probably not a student or a research scientist..






durrrrrrr

artful_codger

Join the armed forces.

Wisco

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Not my spouse im afraid, thats where the problem lies. partner of quite a few years but not a spouse.

Is there any category for common-law spouses? Had a friend who moved to Canada (and I am by no means saying Canadian immigration law is similar to American law) who just had to sign a declaration saying they'd been living together for long enough to qualify as common law (presumably with documentation of living together) and had no trouble.
I think the US does have some sort of fiance visa too (I had a NOLO book called 'Marriage and Fiance Visas' for the US) but haven't looked at it in so long I don't remember much. I'd advise consulting a professional immigration lawyer if you're serious about going.

fret_wimp2

Is there any category for common-law spouses?

Not in US law from what i can see.

I'd advise consulting a professional immigration lawyer if you're serious about going.

This will be my next step, il be contacting HR dept in the US and asking them to provide an expert to discuss my options. They do this a bit so should have experience, or point me to a consultant who can advise.

lonestargirl

Wisco wrote: »

Is there any category for common-law spouses?

No, they do sometimes grant co-habiting B visas to couples who cannot marry but this just gives the right to live, not work in the US. H

Wisco wrote: »

I think the US does have some sort of fiance visa too (I had a NOLO book called 'Marriage and Fiance Visas' for the US) but haven't looked at it in so long I don't remember much.

Fiancee visa is for someone who is engaged to a US citizen to enter the US on when they have the intention of staying in the US, you must get married within 90 days.

My husband and I have J visas too - there are lots of categories of J visa.

avalon68

Varkov wrote: »

Because he's probably not a student or a research scientist..






durrrrrrr

He specifically mentioned Science and engineering . . . . .J1 visas would be applicable to both afaik

And less of the hidden "durrrrr" thanks.........

[Jackass]

artful_codger wrote: »

Join the armed forces.

I'm pretty sure you need to be a citizen to join the armed services.

Luckily my fiancee just happens to be American, so that's how I will be getting in.

pow wow

[Jackass] wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you need to be a citizen to join the armed services.

You don't, but it's also not as easy as hopping off a plane and going straight to the recruiter's office. Interesting article in the NY Times here.

DeadMoney

Here's one way that may work. Go on the 1 year J graduate visa (you must have graduated within the last 12 months, or be registered on a full or part time 3rd level course to qualify). Find a job in the states that would be willing to sponsor you. When I say 'sponsor' however I don't mean that would actually pay for you r visa application and lawyer fees but if you can manage to just get somebody to vouch for you and agree to stand as your employer, you can then get a 3 year visa which can be extended to 7 years. However the downside is that you must also pay about $5,000 to an immigration attorney to handle all of your application stuff and depending on the nature of the job, even then your visa is not guaranteed.

Forget about that 'your job needs to be something a US citizen cannot do' stuff people will tell you. It is not true. I have friends who are working in Bars who have been granted this visa but as I mentioned they have paid over about $5,000 each to their attorneys. However, not a huge price to pay when you think of the amount of time it allows you to work/live in America.

lonestargirl

Hmm DeadMoney, I presume you are talking about people on H1Bs in which case they are breaking all sorts of rules.

1. Visa/lawyer fees must be paid by the sponsor
2. You must work for the sponsor (and only the sponsor), any other employment is illegal.
3. The job must require a degree.

There have been a number of H1B scams in the last few years and a there has been a big clampdown recently - one reason (economy as well) why it took until Jan for visa numbers to run out this year.

DeadMoney

lonestargirl wrote: »

Hmm DeadMoney, I presume you are talking about people on H1Bs in which case they are breaking all sorts of rules.

1. Visa/lawyer fees must be paid by the sponsor
2. You must work for the sponsor (and only the sponsor), any other employment is illegal.
3. The job must require a degree.

There have been a number of H1B scams in the last few years and a there has been a big clampdown recently - one reason (economy as well) why it took until Jan for visa numbers to run out this year.

Hey, yes they are working for their sponsors only, and they have degrees. Since they are being represented by their immigration attorneys and have passed interviews with the embassy, I think everything is above board.

pmrozik

Perhaps this will help:

http://www.workpermit.com/us/us_h1b.htm